Silence or sound: Porsche enters great EV debate

The 2021 Porsche Mission R Concept previews the next-gen 718 Cayman

It’s the issue that has divided the industry as we race towards an electric future – how important is sound? For more than 100 years the internal combustion engine has been the soundtrack to our driving lives.

From growling V8s to screaming four-cylinders and, of course, Porsche’s iconic ‘boxer’ beat, the sound from the engine bay has been an intrinsic part of the driving experience. But with the emergence of electric performance cars, like the Porsche Taycan and Ford Mustang Mach-E, the question of sound has become more pertinent.

Electric motors make far less noise than an internal combustion engine, and the loss of an audio cue does make the driving experience very different. Which is why car makers are experimenting with different artificial sounds in their electric performance cars, and Porsche is considering something radical for its upcoming electric 718 Boxster and Cayman.

Porsche GT4 e-Performancehas been a test bed for EV technology

The man responsible for developing the GT4 e-Performance prototype, that is testing many elements of the next-gen 718, Dr Björn Förster, said he is an advocate for having a faux soundtrack for EVs.

The Porsche Taycan already has a 919-inspired sound that’s able to be switched on or off, but Förster wants to go further. He’s inspired by the new Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, which features a system known as N Active Sound+ and includes 10 speakers (eight internal and two external) that can play three different ‘sound profiles’ that are selectable by the driver.

The three sounds, Ignition, Evolution and Supersonic, have been designed to sound like a petrol-engine, a futuristic EV and a fighter jet respectively.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N has a series of fake ‘engine’ sounds

Förster is a fan of the Hyundai system and believes it’s something Porsche should seriously consider for the new 718 Boxster and Cayman.

“The Hyundai system is totally fake but everyone is loving it,” he said. “I think we should come up with something… better.”

Exactly what that is, and whether Förster will persuade his colleagues remains unclear. However, Porsche is already on the way to developing such a system. The GT4 e-Performance was originally fitted with two 400-watt speakers that could play a speed-matched sound, but they were eventually removed as they weren’t loud enough to overcome the prototype’s racing-style transmission.

What do you think? Should EVs make sound or just be silent? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or on social media.